During the last week, the number of flu cases in Poland, especially in the southern region of Malopolska, has nearly tripled.
As many as 1,696 flu cases were reported in Malopolska between 1-7 October, while in the same period last year the number amounted to only 623.
A similar trend can be observed throughout the country. A total number of 15,750 flu cases were reported in Poland during the first week of October, which is three times more than last year. On average 4.9 of 100,000 people contract the virus.
Some health experts have already heralded the outbreak of a flu epidemic and recommend anti-flu vaccines to kill the virus. Others claim that the numbers result from doctors being stricter in their diagnoses.
“Doctors are reporting flu cases more often than last year,” says Anna Armatys from the regional sanitary station in Krakow. “This year only three flu patients have been hospitalised while last year the number was four,” adds Armatys.
Health experts who predict the flu epidemic argue that A/H1N1 will be the most virulent virus this season. “The last wave of flu affected about 10 percent of people so the virus has still a lot to do,” warns epidemiologist Pawel Grzesiowski, recommending anti-flu vaccinations. (mg/jb)
Source: Dziennik Polski